Dana parks



(No Model.)

D. PARKS.

STEAMER, LAWN, 0R I-NVALID CHAIR. No. 481,119. Patented Aug. 16, 18921 Emmmmm mi:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANA PARKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO MARK STONE, CHARLES H. SCHOFIELD, HARRIS GOLDBERG, AND BRAIN- ARD A. ANDREWS, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAMER, LAWN, OR INVALID CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,119, dated August 16, 1892.

Application filed September 19, 1891. Serial No. 406,238- (No model.)

To all whovn it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANA PARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steamer, Lawn, and Invalid Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth- Io ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is proposed as an improvement upon the chair invented by me and disclosed in United States Patent No. 329,941.

In constructing the chair as described in this patent it is found that when the seat is unoccupied and in equilibrium the unequal distribution of the weight of the parts causes the seat to assume such a position that it cannot be easily or conveniently occupied without first putting it into a horizontal or accessible position and that it is also necessary to hold the arms of the chair elevated when adjusting the back away from the seat.

By my improvements these objections are obviated. I accomplish this by interposing a spring between the stationary and swinging parts of the chair in such a manner that the tendency of the parts to bring the seat into this undesirable position will be overcome, as well as to utilize the spring to aid in effecting the adjustment of the back with respect to the arms, substantially as hereinafter shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a spring arranged at the joint between the arm and the supporting- 40 frame, and Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a pawland-rack connection between the arms and the back of the chair.

Referring to the drawings, the frame E, seat A, foot-rest G, back B, and hangers F F are constructed in the manner shown in my prior patent.

In carrying out my improvements I take a spiral spring II and place it around the pivot pin I between the arm 0 and the frame E,

securing one end of the spring to the arm 0 and the other to the frame, so that the arm will be held in or about a horizontal position. The force of the spring will be sufficient to sustain the seat, back, and arms, so that the seat and arms will when the chair is not 00- cupied be in substantially a horizontal position, but not strong enough materially to interfere with the swinging of these parts when the chair is occupied. The arms 0 are each provided with a groove 0, having a toothed rack on its under side, which is engaged by a gravity-pawl b, rigidly secured at either extremity of a rod Z), journaled to the chairback. The rod 1) is provided with a handle or arm I)", by means of which the rod may be rotated to disengage the pawl from the toothed rack when it is desired to change the position of the back.

Then it is desired to adjust the back with respect to the arms, the spring holding the arms in substantially a fixed position, it is only necessary to take hold of the handle I) with one hand, disengage the pawl, and move the back to the point desired, the spring thus performing the office of the other hand. It will readily be understood that the spring serves a double purpose.

WVhat I claim is- In the herein-described chair, the combina tion of the supporting-frame E, the swinging 8c hangers pivoted thereto, seat A, suspended by said hangers, back B, hinged to the seat, arms 0, hinged to the frame E independently of the hangers and seat and each having a groove 0, provided with a toothed rack, a pivoted pawl in the back B, adapted to engage said rack, and a spring arranged between the frame E and arms 0, whereby the seat and arms will be held in substantially a horizontal position when the chair is unoccu- 9o pied, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANA PARKS. 

